It's been dark since the Grimms, and likely long before!
I just rewatched it (link in sibling link). It's mocking Farquaad, but I think is clearly meant to be taken as slapstick. Implying that torture is no big deal.
Yeah and I guess there are two directions you can go with slapstick like that: “it’s minimizing torture in a disturbing way,” or “all slapstick comedy necessitates suspension of disbelief.”
Makes me think of the Home Alone series.